§ 1. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the social, political, and economic position of the depressed classes in India, numbering nearly 50,000,000, he will set up a Committee of Inquiry into the condition of this section of the populaton of India?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)My Noble Friend does not regard the problem presented by the so-called "depressed classes" as being sufficiently distinguishable from the general economic, sociological and political problems of Indian administration as a whole to call for a special inquiry. It is clear that because of its relationship with the matters which I have just mentioned, the subject will come within the purview of the Statutory Commission on Indian Reforms.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSIs it not the case that our presence in India is the main cause of such improvement as has taken place in the condition of these depressed classes?
§ Earl WINTERTONI certainly think that during the last 50 years there has been an improvement, and some sign of the solution of a very difficult problem.